Marvelous MVP: Kobe Bryant, the league MVP, has led the Lakers in scoring in all but one of their 14 playoffs games. The last player other than Bryant to lead the team in scoring was Pau Gasol, who had 36 points in a 128-114 victory over Denver in Game 1 of the first round.

Telling statistic: Getting beat on the boards in an almost sure sign the Spurs will lose. In this postseason, they are 1-6 when out-rebounded, including 0-5 on the road.

In Tuesday night’s game, the Lakers dominated the boards, 56-43.

Fast starters: The Lakers are 10-3 in this postseason in games in which they’ve led after one quarter, 10-0 when ahead or tied at halftime and 10 when ahead or tied after three quarters.